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June 2007

"The Kontinent" magazine. Folder 45. The Chekist Anthology.

[Translation unavailable. See original. Detailed summary below.]

In this folder Mitrokhin provides the KGB plan to limit the influence of "The Kontinent" magazine on the dissidents' movement in the West and in the Soviet Union. Mitrokhin states that there were a few of dissidents' groups in Paris, but the editorial staff of "The Kontinent" had the most power and respect. The CIA funded publishing of the magazine through the committee of Radio Liberty.

According to Mitrokhin, the magazine was first published in October of 1974 in West Germany. Most staff people were former citizens of the Soviet Union; however, two American CIA officers, Bailey and Betell, were a part of the editorial staff. Mitrokhin states that the fundamental goal of the magazine was to collect as many anti-soviet materials from different countries of the world, to unite all authors who promoted the dissidents' movement in their publications, as well as to help Soviet writers to publish their anti-socialist compositions.

Mitrokhin states that the KGB's primary task was to cultivate strong connections within the editorial staff in order to prevent provocative works from being published as well as to limit the influence of the magazine by tarnishing its reputation. It was also planned to unite all dissidents, which would help to limit a number of their activities. Mitrokhin provides in this entry the KGB's detailed plan for achieving these goals. However, according to Mitrokhin, The KGB was presented an unexpected challenge in its attempts to unite all dissidents. Dissidents constantly had disagreements and arguments within their community in regards of dissidents' stands on different policies and issues. Due to such occurrences, the dissident movement expanded because many activists wanted a leadership position. They had been actively publishing more anti-soviet materials as well as taking part in many anti-soviet radio shows. Mitrokhin provides names of major activists. The First and the Fifth Chief Directorate of the KGB immediately started preparing a plan to limit these activities. According to Mitrokhin, their major task was to expose and exaggerate dissidents' connections with the Central Intelligence Agency which would diminish their respect and influence



In this folder Mitrokhin provides the KGB plan to limit the influence of “The Kontinent” magazine on the dissidents’ movement in the West and in the Soviet Union.

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Contributed to CWIHP by Vasili Mitrokhin.

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2011-11-20

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110347